Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw met with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Wednesday to discuss India’s ambitious plans for building a comprehensive artificial intelligence ecosystem. The meeting, held in New Delhi, focused on India’s strategy to develop an entire AI stack—covering GPUs, foundational models, and applications.
Following the discussion, Vaishnaw expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, mentioning on X that Altman was open to partnering with India on these initiatives. He highlighted India’s success with cost-effective technological projects, drawing parallels to the country’s low-cost space missions, including its 2023 moon landing. He noted that similar innovation could help India create AI models at a fraction of the cost seen in other countries.
During the conversation, Vaishnaw emphasised how India’s proven track record in executing large-scale tech projects on a budget can translate to AI development. He pointed out that AI could revolutionise critical sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, weather forecasting, disaster management, and transportation. Vaishnaw encouraged Indian startups to develop creative AI solutions and announced an upcoming open competition to drive innovation.
The minister also shared his belief that leveraging new technology could solve many national challenges and urged the startup community to take part in shaping India’s AI future. His comments underscored the government’s commitment to promoting AI innovation across multiple industries.
Altman reaffirmed India’s importance to OpenAI, describing the country as a key market for the company and a potential global leader in AI. He acknowledged India’s rapid adoption of AI technology, noting that the country’s users on OpenAI platforms have tripled in the past year. He also expressed excitement about India’s holistic approach to building its AI infrastructure, including hardware and applications.
Altman’s visit comes at a time when global competition in AI is intensifying, particularly with the emergence of China’s DeepSeek, which has introduced cost-effective, open-source AI models. On his wider Asia tour, Altman has already secured partnerships, including a recent deal with South Korean tech giant Kakao.
Altman’s discussions in India are part of broader global engagements, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to co-host an AI summit in France from February 10-11. Altman is expected to attend the event, which will provide a platform to strengthen international collaborations in AI development.
India’s push to create a robust AI ecosystem aligns with its growing global influence in technology. With the support of OpenAI and initiatives like the Rs 10,738 crore India AI Mission, the country is positioning itself as a major player in the AI revolution, focusing on cost-effective, scalable solutions to benefit both domestic and global markets.
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IT Min Ashwini Vaishnaw, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discuss possible avenues of collaboration
